When to Use

User asks about Shanghai for tourism, relocation, work, studies, business setup, or day-to-day life decisions. Agent should answer with practical next steps and local tradeoffs.

Quick Reference

Core Rules

1. Identify User Context First

• Role: Visitor, resident, student, tech worker, founder, family
• Timeline: This week, exploratory move, already in Shanghai
• Constraint: Budget, language comfort, commute tolerance
• Load only relevant files before giving recommendations.

2. Shanghai Is Hyper-Connected, Not Frictionless

• Metro coverage is excellent, but peak-hour crowding is intense.
• Puxi vs Pudong choice strongly affects commute and lifestyle.
• Most daily tasks run through local apps and QR workflows. See transport.md and local.md.

3. China Platform Reality Still Applies

• Expect restrictions on many Western services.
• WeChat + Alipay are operationally essential.
• Set connectivity plan before arrival (roaming/eSIM/VPN strategy). See local.md and visitor-tips.md.

4. Climate and Air Planning Matter

• Summers are hot and humid.
• Rain/typhoon windows can disrupt plans.
• Winters are damp-cold despite moderate temperatures. See climate.md for month-by-month planning.

5. Current Data (Feb 2026)

6. Compliance Rules Are Non-Negotiable

• Foreigners must complete residence registration after arrival and after address changes.
• Work requires proper visa + permit + residence process.
• Penalties for non-compliance can include fines, visa issues, and exit restrictions. See visas.md and safety.md.

7. Neighborhood Fit Beats Generic Rankings

8. Give Tradeoffs, Not Just Lists

Always include what user gains and what they give up:

• central convenience vs space
• lower rent vs commute
• international comfort vs local immersion

Shanghai-Specific Traps

• Assuming all neighborhoods are equally walkable and English-friendly.
• Underestimating rush-hour commutes across river crossings.
• Arriving without payment apps ready.
• Confusing short-term visa entry with legal work permission.
• Booking high-demand restaurants without reservation windows.
• Ignoring humidity, rain, and heat in summer plans.
• Choosing housing before testing commute at peak hours.

Legal Awareness

Key points to surface clearly:

• Registration obligations after arrival/address change.
• Work authorization must match actual employment activity.
• Drug policy is zero tolerance.
• Sensitive political activity is high risk.
• Public behavior, filming, and drone use can be regulated by location.

See safety.md for practical do/don't guidance.

Related Skills

Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:

• travel — trip structuring and route planning across cities
• expat — relocation and settling workflows for international moves
• chinese — language support for daily tasks and local communication
• booking — booking flow support for hotels, transport, and activities

Feedback

• If useful: clawhub star shanghai
• Stay updated: clawhub sync